From the Mickey Mouse Revue to Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

The brand new Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is just the kind of attraction that Disney's Hollywood Studios needs, but before we talk about it, let's clarify one thing: It is not the first attraction to predominately feature Mickey Mouse. 

From the D23 archives. 

The US version of the attraction poster.

From the Disney Gazette.

That honor goes to the Magic Kingdom's original Mickey Mouse Revue which made its debut at park opening in 1971. Sometimes referred to as the Mickey Mouse Musical Revue perhaps due to the confusion based on the name which appeared on the attraction poster. 

The 86 Audio-Animatronic characters in this theater attraction took park guests into the world of Disney film music long before the equally charming 3D film PhilharMagic came into being. In this original "E Ticket", Maestro Mickey had center stage as he led the orchestra through a beautiful and rather reverent look at classic Disney music. (This is also the first placement of the Three Caballero figures now found in Epcot's Gran Fiesta Tour.) Florida was the first home to the Revue attraction, but it was later moved to Tokyo Disneyland. 

OK- onto the brand new attraction... 

In our snarky, tired, and cynical world full of deadly viruses, war, and strained social media focused relationships, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway offers a silly respite from it all. With a refreshingly innocent old school approach to Disney attractions, I can see it being the kind of achievement that Walt Disney himself would be proud of! It's a family friendly, fun and wacky journey, full of detail that makes repeats rides a necessity. 

Under the Sea?

If only Ariel's Adventure was this fun!

With new technologies and classic design sensibilities, Imagineer Kevin Rafferty, Charita Carter, and their team have created something special here- truly worth being duplicated at other parks! It especially fits at Disneyland where Mickey Mouse made his park debut back in 1955. Mickey's Towntown is a fine fit for this instant classic!

I won't get into the should it / should it not have replaced the Great Movie Ride. I think we all know the answer to that. But as a brand new attraction, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is the perfect addition to the attraction starved Studios park.

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Update: Here's the best video out there. From my friends at WDWMagic:

The attraction's theme song, "Nothing Can Stop Us Now" is even available in I-tunes.

(Art and photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)